Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Halloween 2013: Favorite Mediums

~by Marie Robinson

Because of one iconic boy I will soon mention, we are now familiar
with the term “sixth sense” as the ability to see ghosts. Mediumship is a
frightening and fascinating gift, and there are a few psychics
portrayed in film that I have to tip my hat to for bearing it so boldly.
Here are my favorite mediums.

1. COLE SEAR— - THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)
Haley
Joel Osment immortalized the character of Cole Sear, a child who is
faced with this terrifying ability to “see dead people”. He encounters
grisly apparitions on a daily basis, and what’s worse is that they talk
to him. Some of them just need a simple task performed so that they may
move on, while others are simply sinister. Cole bravely learns to accept
his gift, helping more than his share of lost souls.

2. ELISE RAINIER— - INSIDIOUS (2010)
Horror
vet Lin Shaye portrays the lovable Elise Rainier (who also appears in
the recent sequel) who is called to help rescue Dalton from a spiritual
realm she has dubbed “the Further”. While Elise is a charming old woman,
she is also a badass; she ain’t afraid of no ghost, and when she straps
on her creepy gasmask contraption, the ghouls better watch their backs!

3. TANGINA— - POLTERGEIST (1982)
Tangina is arguable the
most famous medium in movie history. She is rendered unforgettable by
late actress Zelda Rubinstein—a four-foot spitfire with a spooky little
voice! The Freeling family is forced to ask the assistance of Tangina
after their young daughter Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) is abducted by
the restless spirits of the house through a portal in the television.
She is the only one who can save the child from the TV people!

4. LAFAYETTE— - TRUE BLOOD (2008- )
Everyone
in Bon Temps has their own little…quirk, and sassy short order cook
Lafayette Reynolds’ (Nelsan Ellis) is the gift of mediumship. However,
he is new to the whole communicating-with-the-dead thing and more than
once has a spirit taken siege of his body. Poor Lafayette then becomes
the vessel for all types of batshit antics, like stealing babies and
trying to drown Sookie (sadly, an unsuccessful attempt). Alas, it’s all a
part of living in Louisiana.

5. LORRAINE WARREN— - THE CONJURING (2013)

Vera
Farmiga gives a warm portrayal of real-life medium Lorraine Warren. In
The Conjuring, Warren pairs up with her husband and together they make a
very polite but vigilant ghost-busting team. Lorraine is so dedicated
to helping people she often forgets to think of herself when she uses
herself as a medium—for each time she opens herself up to the dead, they
take a piece of her back with them.

EDITOR'S PICK: ODA MAE BROWN -- GHOST (1990)
No list of psychics or mediums would be complete without a shout-out to Oda Mae Brown. Memorably portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, Oda Mae is convinced by Sam (Patrick Swayze) to circumvent a dastardly plan to kill his girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore). Oda Mae doesn't actually believe she has any true psychic powers until she realizes Sam is a ghost who has come to her for help. Reluctantly, she intervenes in the scheming of Sam's co-workers and helps Sam save the day - and his girl. Like any decent psychic would. /christine

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Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent...

We Wrote That:

*Christine Hadden is the creator, editor, and head writer of the Rondo-nominated blog Fascination with Fear and has been an obsessed horror fan for longer than many of her readers have been alive. She can overlook movie plot holes in exchange for style and atmosphere, rejects both the 3D and found footage phenomenons, values high gore content when done right, always prefers practical effects over CGI, and has an undying love of vampires. She considers Norman Bates her homeboy and claims Jaws as her favorite film. She has written for Fangoria and Paracinema magazines, MoviePilot, and Eli Roth's horror app The Crypt. She enjoys Kentucky bourbon and red, red wine. But not together.

Contributing Writer

*Marie Robinson is an aspiring folklore expert, published writer, and obvious old soul from St. Louis, MO. She considers Roman Polanski one of her favorite directors, The Sentinel among the scariest of films she's seen, and has read both Algernon Blackwood and M.R. James - making her wise beyond her years. In her spare time, she enjoys wandering through misty cemeteries, seeking knowledge and proof of paranormal activity, and prepping her next frightening short story. Besides Fascination with Fear, she contributes to Destroy the Brain and has written for Eli Roth's horror app: The Crypt.